-
Thank You For Visiting... Please Click Here and sign up to contribute
Ansel Adams Zone System Darling Or Dinosaur
- Thread starter ian barber
- Start date
A predictable read Ian but one that refreshingly debunks two widely held myths:
a) that the Zone System guarantees perfect results every time - it doesn't - but used correctly it will give the photographer as much information as possible to attempt to build the perfect picture in the analogue or digital darkroom and
b) that Ansel Adams was some sort of demigod that could turn out masterpieces at will - he couldn't and didn't - as the author notes "he had made an awful lot of very ordinary photographs! I was somewhat stunned to learn that he had no illusions and no expectations that every film he exposed would wind up being another one of what he fondly called his “Mona Lisas.”" In other words he was just as mortal as the rest of us.
a) that the Zone System guarantees perfect results every time - it doesn't - but used correctly it will give the photographer as much information as possible to attempt to build the perfect picture in the analogue or digital darkroom and
b) that Ansel Adams was some sort of demigod that could turn out masterpieces at will - he couldn't and didn't - as the author notes "he had made an awful lot of very ordinary photographs! I was somewhat stunned to learn that he had no illusions and no expectations that every film he exposed would wind up being another one of what he fondly called his “Mona Lisas.”" In other words he was just as mortal as the rest of us.
Agreed... worth the read.
Nice to see credit given to Fred Archer, whose contribution is usually omitted.
Certainly relevant in today's world whether you are film of digital based with an emphasis to the former.
Thinking where a subject should be tonally placed (visualized) is part of the process and thinking of a scene (subject) in terms of shades of gray helps me.
For digital I usually spotmeter on the brightest highlight and expose 3 to 3.5 stops (zones) under.
This assures that my highlights are not blown and a starting point.
Using luminosity masking, I can manipulate tones to the zone of my choice.
The Zone System is an aid in the journey to the final image... not religious dogma as some espouse.
Here's another article by Alan Ross.
http://www.alanrossphotography.com/can-the-zone-system-go-digital-2/
Just my 5 cents worth as we've dropped the penny coin here in the colonies.
Thanks Ian.
S.
Nice to see credit given to Fred Archer, whose contribution is usually omitted.
Certainly relevant in today's world whether you are film of digital based with an emphasis to the former.
Thinking where a subject should be tonally placed (visualized) is part of the process and thinking of a scene (subject) in terms of shades of gray helps me.
For digital I usually spotmeter on the brightest highlight and expose 3 to 3.5 stops (zones) under.
This assures that my highlights are not blown and a starting point.
Using luminosity masking, I can manipulate tones to the zone of my choice.
The Zone System is an aid in the journey to the final image... not religious dogma as some espouse.
Here's another article by Alan Ross.
http://www.alanrossphotography.com/can-the-zone-system-go-digital-2/
Just my 5 cents worth as we've dropped the penny coin here in the colonies.
Thanks Ian.
S.